Observing the world of renewable energy and sustainable living

Britain on the Brink of Gas Rationing

Reason: unusual cold weather, the breakdown of a pipeline with Belgium and most important, surprisingly little gas storage capacity. One expert said that Britain had less than 36 hours left and that rationing was a real possibility if the cold weather would continue. Gas prices increased with 50% overnight. Gas stores are 90% empty. Britain’s only sources are pipelines from Norway, Holland and Belgium as well as liquid gas from Qatar. A trip from the Middle East takes about 2.5 weeks. Sometimes the destination changes at full see, because some other country is willing to pay more. Power stations will be the first to be rationed, households last. International comparison storage capacity in days: UK-20, Italy-70, Germany-92, France-103, USA-180, Holland-23,000.